This is the time of year when vacations are being planned. Spring and summer will be here before we know it. What better time than now to discuss with you the planning you can do ahead of time. Traveling alone or with the family should not be traumatic. Everything can get done before you leave if you only will plan a.h.e.a.d.

In addition to the actual packing in suitcases or duffel bags, there are many things to do before you get to that point. One of the things you can do is to sit down well ahead of your plans with a large pad of paper or spiral binder that will become your “travel bible.” On the first page, write the things you might tend to forget in the rush before you actually leave.

Things To Do:

• Stop the mail

• Stop the newspaper

• Advise any other service provider who comes to the house that you will not be available during the dates you are out of town (i.e. cleaning crew, milk delivery, cleaners.)

• Advise neighbors you’ll be gone.

• Leave contact information where you’ll be with at least one relative or friend.

• Cancel any appointments made during the time you’ll be gone. A great idea is to add one more day after you return to get yourself in order before resuming your full schedule. I always put a big “X” in my calendar on the day following our trips.

Things To Assemble:

• These are things in a tote which stay in the tote all the time and which will make it possible for you to be ready to travel at a moment’s notice. Be sure to include: patent medicines, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, Q-tips, shower cap, shoe-cleaning cloth, scissors, nail file, band-aids, anti-itch cream, anti-bacterial cream, antacids, baby powder, corn pads, shampoo and other hair products. Lots of them come in travel sizes. How many items can you think of that are used by you or your family from time to time? I believe all of these things can be assembled once and left assembled after you return from your trip. Before you put the tote with all of these things away, however, it is a really good idea to refill any items which you have used while they are fresh in your mind. Then you should be ready for the next trip without a thought of what you might be forgetting.

I have a few things which I always travel with and which I would like to share with you. One thing is a night light. I carry it with me in its original carton and plug the light into the bathroom socket. The carton stays in the hotel room drawer where I will see it and then I don’t forget the light when I leave. The other thing I carry is a small plastic zipper bag that contains a couple of spoons, forks, knives, a sharp paring knife, sweetener packets and toothpicks. If we are in a hotel room and want fruit in the afternoon or before we retire, the knife, etc. are available. If you have room, pack some napkins, too. Caution: If you are flying, put the plastic bag with the knife in your checked luggage or it probably will be confiscated. It happened to me.

I also always carry a “dirties” bag for the laundry. It is a drawstring bag that can hang on the closet handle. All the dirty laundry is in one place and ready for the laundry room when you return from your trip.

Don’t forget reading material. This is the time to catch up on the books you can’t get to during other times of the year.

I use a lot of zippered plastic bags when I pack. I have jumbo, gallon, quart and pint bags available. All underthings go into a jumbo bag. All accessories go into another bag. The hair care items (brushes, etc.) go into another one. My electric toothbrush goes into a small bag and I have it labeled so it helps me to remember to pack the toothbrush. When I arrive at my destination, unpacking is great because the plastic bags (with everything neat and folded) go right into the drawers or into the bathroom. No muss, no fuss and unpacking will be very fast and efficient.

Don’t forget things which get packed at the last minute like: medicines, jewelry, purses, scarves and other accessories, shoulder pads, cuff links, bathing suit, hat. I have this list as a checklist in my travel drawer. I refer to it before I leave to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything.

Did I say travel drawer? Well, yes, I did and I’d like to suggest that you make an area in a drawer for your lists and your tote(s) that hold all the things mentioned above plus any other items you can think of. Now, if you don’t have room in a drawer, buy a large, covered plastic tote and label it “travel items.” It is to be kept strictly for travel. You might even want to tape to the lid of the tote your lists, created once and used forever. No need to sit and reinvent this process every time you go out of town on business or on a vacation. One time of sitting and making these lists is sufficient. Do other, more fun things with the time left over because now you are becoming so efficient.

All the loose things (like shoes, tote bags with toiletries, books, gifts, a travel iron, etc.) should be put in the bottom of the suitcase or duffel. On top of this, plastic bags with soft things like underwear, socks, etc., making a nice, cushioned layer for the clothes to lay on. Next will come the folded clothes.

Folding clothes is a difficult concept to write about. I would much rather be in front of each of you, showing you what I mean. Suffice it to say, whatever wrinkles or folds you have in the clothes as you pack them will become very deep creases when you remove the items from the suitcase or hanging bag. I typically try to leave dresses, jackets and skirts on the hangers. I will take these items, one at a time and lay them in the suitcase upside down with the middle of the garment over the opening of the suitcase. Each item needs to be smoothed out so there are no wrinkles, front or back, top or bottom. As each item is stacked on top of the prior one, the top or bottom (or both) of the article will be hanging over the edge of the suitcase. When all of the hanging items are in place, lay slacks or sweaters over the clothes. Then, one by one, flip the over-hanging part of the garments, smoothing each item as you tuck it into the confines of the suitcase edges. When everything is in, put a bathrobe (or something which won’t matter if it gets wrinkled) on top of all the folded clothing. Then secure the straps or ties to keep all the items in place. When you get to your destination, open the luggage, unstrap the clothes, lift off the non-hanging items and then pick up the hangers, one at a time and shake the clothes a little to shake out the wrinkles. Hang them in the closet and you should be ready to rock and roll. Put the plastic bags full of other things in the drawers, put toiletries in the bathroom, plug in the nightlight and go out to dinner.

As for your house: before you leave town, I suggest you leave a radio playing in the bedroom and put a couple of timers on your table lamps. One lamp in the living room should go on at dusk and off at midnight or your usual bedtime. The other timer should be on a lamp in the bedroom (import one from another room if need be) and have the lamp on from midnight to dawn. That way, your house looks like it is being lived in.

Have I given you enough food for thought? Good. Now go out and start putting together the things that will become your tote bag(s) with items which always stay assembled. When you have finished, bless yourself for this job well done and for getting organized in a most pleasant way.

Happy vacation!

Nancy Kalef is the retired owner of “Let’s Get Organized.” and formerly went to clients’ homes to organize their closets, cupboards and paperwork. She may be reached on her email at NancyKalef@comcast.net.